Updated February 17, 2020
African Elections in 2020
Twenty-one African countries are to hold presidential
and/or parliamentary polls in 2020.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
African Elections in 2020
Country Election Snapshots
constitution in a referendum to be held simultaneously with long-
delayed legislative elections, a potential step toward running for a
Burkina Faso (Presidential & Parliamentary, Nov. 22)
third term. State security forces have allegedly opened fire on
President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré is expected to seek
anti-third-term protests and arrested prominent activists.
reelection amid a growing Islamist insurgency and ethnic tensions.
Rising violence has undercut the initial optimism of the country's
Niger (Presidential & Parliamentary, Dec. 27)
2014-2015 democratic transition from authoritarian rule.
President Mahamadou Issoufou, elected in 2011 after a military
coup, is expected to step down after two terms, which could lead
Burundi (Presidential & Parliamentary, May 20)
to the country’s first-ever democratic transition between two
President Pierre Nkurunziza has agreed to step down in favor of
elected presidents. Niger is a key U.S. and European security
ruling party nominee Evariste Ndayishimiye. Security forces and
partner in West Africa’s increasingly conflict-ridden Sahel region.
ruling party militias continue to repress opposition supporters,
the media, and civil society. Nkurunziza’s reelection to a third
Malawi (Presidential, due by July 2) On February 3, 2020, Malawi's
term in 2015 circumvented constitutional term limits and a
Constitutional Court annul ed the May 2019 presidential election,
landmark peace accord, setting off a violent national crisis and an
citing extensive irregularities and incompetence by the electoral
ongoing wave of political repression. Whether Nkurunziza’s
commission. It ordered a new election by early July 2020 under a
successor might open political space and renew ties with
50%-plus-one electoral system, to be established by the
Western donors remains in doubt.
legislature prior to the vote; it found the current plurality-based
system to be unconstitutional. It also ordered a reversion to the
Cameroon (Parliamentary, Feb. 9)
pre-election status quo, allowing President Peter Mutharika, the
Cameroon’s main opposition party boycotted legislative and
incumbent, to retain his post. In May 2019, he had won 39% of
municipal elections on February 9, held amid a separatist
votes, against 35% and 20% for his two closest rivals, respectively.
insurgency in the country’s west, rising Islamist violence in the
north, a crackdown on civil space, and substantial pre-election
Seychelles (Presidential, due by November)
violence against candidates. Reportedly low turnout and
President Danny Faure is expected to face an uphil battle for
allegations of fraud marred the pol s, likely heightening
reelection. Faure came to office when, as vice president, he
perceptions of marginalization on the part of Cameroon’s political
succeeded then-president James Michel, who resigned after the
opposition. The National Assembly has come to serve as a
coalition opposition, Seychelles Democratic Alliance, won control
rubber stamp for long-time President Paul Biya.
of parliament in 2016. Political gridlock between the executive
and legislative branches has since prevailed.
Central African Republic (Presidential & Parliamentary, Dec. 27)
President Faustin Archange Touadera is expected to run for a
Tanzania (Presidential & Parliamentary, Oct. 4)
second term amid strains in the government’s 2019 peace
Under President John Magufuli, who is expected to seek
agreement with rebel groups and growing Russian influence. Most
reelection, the government has imposed increasingly severe
of the country remains outside of central government control.
restrictions on the opposition and civil liberties generally,
including during local elections in late 2019. Zanzibar, a
Cote d'Ivoire (Presidential, Oct. 31)
semiautonomous region with a history of political interference in
Second-term President Alassane Ouattara has publicly discussed
elections and violently contested results, also is to hold
circumventing constitutional term limits to seek reelection, as his
simultaneous presidential and legislative pol s, likely in October.
government has moved to sideline key opposition figures. The
elections (as with those in Guinea, below) wil test West Africa’s
Togo (Presidential, Feb. 22)
commitment to presidential term limits, as well as the stability of
President Faure Gnassingbé, in office since succeeding his father
Francophone West Africa’s top economic performer.
in 2005, is expected to seek reelection to a fourth term, as
permitted under a 2019 constitutional amendment. Protracted
Ethiopia (Parliamentary, Aug. 29)
large protests calling for Gnassingbé’s resignation shook the
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who took office in 2018 and
country in 2017-2018.
welcomed the return of exiled opposition groups, wil seek a
popular mandate for his sweeping reform agenda in parliamentary
Parliamentary elections are also expected in Chad (late spring),
elections. New political al iances are forming amid the breakup of
Egypt (November), Gabon (late 2020), Liberia (October),
the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
Mali (March), Namibia (November) and Somalia (late 2020 or
(EPRDF) coalition. Most of its former member parties have
early 2021). Comoros President Azali Assoumani’s party won a
merged into a new national party with Abiy at the helm. Rising
parliamentary majority in a January election that the opposition
ethno‐nationalism could fuel electoral violence, threatening not
boycotted.
only Abiy's reforms, but Ethiopia's stability.
Sarah R. Collins, Coordinator, Research Assistant
Ghana (Presidential & Parliamentary, due by December)
Alexis Arieff, Specialist in African Affairs
President Nana Akufo-Addo seeks reelection against former
President John Mahama, while their respective political parties vie
Lauren Ploch Blanchard, Specialist in African Affairs
for parliamentary control in what has become a de-facto two-
Nicolas Cook, Specialist in African Affairs
party system. Elections have become institutionalized in Ghana
Tomas F. Husted, Analyst in African Affairs
since a transition to multiparty rule in the early 1990s.
IF11427
Guinea (Parliamentary, March 1; Presidential, October)
Second-term President Alpha Condé has called for changing the
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African Elections in 2020
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11427 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED